4 reasons backyard barbecuers will love this ultimate concept grill

Labor Day marked the end of the grilling season for many, but nearly half of American grill owners — 48 percent — barbecue year round, according to the most recent Weber GrillWatch survey. A third of grill owners even barbecue when temperatures drop below freezing. It’s not hard to see why. Grilling can be easy and fun, and produces superior flavor profiles – as long as you have the right equipment.

The science of grilling and the technology behind it have come a long way since early humans first speared a mammoth and fed it to an open flame. We recently pooled several advanced grill technologies and materials and built one ultimate concept grill — a vision of a potential future in which glass revolutionizes the barbecue.

Here are four ways grillers might benefit from these glass-ceramic concept ideas, which could create the ultimate backyard barbecuing experience:

1. Grill faster, at hotter temperatures. Some infrared (IR) grills use glass-ceramic panels between the burners and the grate to crank out even, elevated heat at temperatures up to 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit. Glass-ceramic’s thermal properties allow it to handle the heat of the burners and radiate that heat directly into the food. As a result, these grills create a perfect sear and seal in juices and flavors, but they also achieve a 50 percent savings in fuel over other grills, reducing the frequency of propane tank fill ups.

2. Keep an eye on your steak. To check on the progress of a steak or burger, most barbecuers need to lift the hood and therefore crash the grill’s temperature. The concept grill’s NEXTREMA glass-ceramic viewing panel, strong enough to withstand the intense heat of grilling, allows cooks to keep a constant eye on their meal without lifting the lid.

3. Heat up side dishes on a sleek, rugged burner. A panel of glass-ceramic to the side of the grill can be used as a heating surface for hamburger and hot dog buns or as a burner to cook baked beans or another side dish. The glass-ceramic allows for easy clean-up and it doesn’t rust, warp, or yellow, so the burner looks brand new for years to come.

4. Clean up in a flash. The glass-ceramic panel above the IR burners and the side burner can be wiped clean after every grilling session, preventing the buildup of grease, charred food, and ashes that can hurt a grill’s performance.

Drawing on the thermal advantages of glass-ceramic, this concept grill is what we imagine when we think about the perfect barbecue. What other features would you add?

Hi there! I’m Karen Elder, Marketing Manager at SCHOTT North America. I’m responsible for developing and executing marketing and PR strategies for the Home Tech department. I also play a role in product development where I have the opportunity to work with our customers to implement innovation and design. Improving kitchen design is particularly exciting, partially because I love entertaining family and friends and the kitchen is the hub of every dinner party! Before coming to SCHOTT North America, I held communications roles at Coolbaker’s International and I also managed customer relations at CT Innovations. I’m an active member of the Emerald Circle, which supports the efforts of the green building and sustainable living industries. And I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville. On the weekends you’ll find me outdoors, traveling, and attending music festivals and concerts.